Dr. Marcia Brown, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to develop the ANGLES of Communication, a speech and language screening instrument for children between two and five years of age residing in rural populations. Residents of these small communities do not have access to the special programs that are available to persons residing in metropolitan or urban areas. Although several preschool speech and language screening instruments are available, not one test specifically addresses normative data representative of children from rural areas. The ANGLES was also designed in compliance with all ten psychometric criteria outlined by the American Psychological Association, a feature no other speech and language screening instrument possesses.

Dr. Allen Gathman, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: The wood-decaying basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune undergoes cellular autolysis in response to low nitrogen condition. We used differential display to find mRNA fragments that are upregulated under low nitrogen conditions. Differential display is a PCR process that selectively amplifies mRNA fragments from mycelia grown on minimal (Min) and low nitrogen (M01) media. These fragments were run on a polyacrylamide gel. We compared the amplified Min and M01 fragments to find those that were upregulated. We made radioactive (³²P) probes from selected fragments. These probes were used to screen the M01 cDNA library for full length clones that correspond to the selected fragments. The full cDNA can then be sequenced and compared to the GENBANK database.

Dr. Martha Zlokovich, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: As Communication Disorders majors, we have studied several areas of communication. Part of our studies have been directed toward clarifying the myths that the general public may believe about individuals with communicative disorders. Previous research has been concerned with teachers' perceptions of their students with communication disorders (Ebert & Prelock, 1994). Ebert and Prelock's research shows that in some cases, a child's ability level and a teacher's expectations may be mismatched. Unfortunately, Ebert and Prelock also found many teachers view students with communication disorders as having a deficit in intelligence, and they underestimate the students' performance and cognitive abilities in the classroom. Other research shows social stereotypes and individuation information such as traits and behaviors jointly influence impressions of individuals (Kunda & Thagard, 1996; Carlin, 1996). Upon this basis, behaviors such as articulation and fluency disorders may constrain the meaning of the message one intends to communicate. Furthermore, such behaviors contribute to the impressions other individuals form about the speaker. Based on research previously performed, the researchers have formed the hypothesis that the general public's impression of those with deviant speech will be negative.

The variables that were examined in this project were the child's articulation and prosody of a passage. Articulation, in speech, is vocal tract movements for speech and sound production. Articulation includes accuracy in placement of the articulators (for example tongue and lips), timing, direction of movements, force extended, speed of response, and neural integration of all events (Nicolosi, Harryman, & Kresheck, 1996). Prosody, in speech, is the melody of speech, determined primarily by modifications of pitch, quality, strength, and duration which is perceived primarily as stress and intonation patterns (Nicolosi, et al., 1996).

It is expected that negative impressions, such as lower intelligence, lower social acceptance by peer groups, and lower socioeconomic status will be formed when a child has deviant speech. The researchers expected these results due to the finding that negative deviancies usually create stereotypes in society. Such stereotypes placed on individuals with a communication disorder include lower IQ, lower social functioning, and lower socioeconomic conditions. The problem with these and other stereotypes is that they can turn into prejudicial thoughts and behaviors towards people (Weten, 1996). Unfortunately, through the researchers' clinical experience, discrimination has been reported by those individuals with communicative disorders.

Dr. Walt Lilly, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: Fungi live by secretion of hydrolytic enzymes into the growth substrate and subsequent absorption of the products by hydrolysis by the mycelium. We have investigated protease secretion by the wood-decaying basidomycete, S. commune, when grown submerged in a liquid minimal medium containing L-asparagine as the sole nitrogen source and in minimal media supplemented with gelatin. The mycelia showed similar growth kinetics in both media; however, growth rates were slightly higher in the gelatin-supplemented medium. The fungus lowered the pH of both media by nearly one unit over the course of 148 h of growth and secreted measurable amounts of protein by 60 h. Acid phosphatase activity, a marker of general hydrolytic enzyme secretion, was generally only slightly elevated during growth of the mycelia in minimal medium; however, it was increased nearly 8-fold in media containing gelatin. Proteases accumulated in both media; however, inclusion of gelatin resulted in substantially higher activity. These enzymes consisted almost entirely of serine and metallo-endoproteases and at least one diaminodipeptidase. The proportion of activity in each class, plus the absence in the medium of several mycelial proteolytic enzymes, suggests important differences in the mycelial and extracellular proteolytic systems. SDS-gelatin PAGE also indicated differences in the mycelial and extracellular systems, with the extracellular system devoid of two major mycelial proteases involved in autolysis, ScPrA and ScPrB.

Dr. Martha Zlokovich, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have been done connecting birth order to personality. These studies have resulted in some common findings, although researchers vary some on the importance they give other background variables that can influence personality, such as social class or number of siblings. Firstborns are usually characterized as assertive, achievement-oriented, dominant, and conventional. Middle children often act as mediators and retain feelings of being "unloved" or "unspecial." Youngest children are often viewed as popular, light-hearted, and rebellious. Only children have characteristics similar to oldest children, but are usually more independent and have a closer relationship to their parents. The present study attempted to measure the influence of birth order on personality by method of a survey, which was administered to forty undergraduate students living on campus. The survey asked participants to rate their personalities and describe their placement (birth order) in the family, as either and only child, oldest child, middle child, or youngest child. Surveys were then divided into their respective birth order groups and personality data was tabulated for each group. The results revealed not distinct pattern of connection between birth order and personality, without taking other background variables into account.

Dr. Nola T. Radford, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: Stuttering is the inability to talk like without struggle and hesitation. It is characterized by repeating words, prolonging sounds, or not getting the words out. These are known by Speech-Language Pathologists as repetitions, prolongations, and blocks, which occur very frequently in people who are labeled "stutterers." Stuttering affects approximately 2,000,000 people in the United States or 1% of the total population (ASHA Special Interest Division 4) leaving stutterers with feelings of loneliness as well as inadequacy in participation in normal daily interactions. Many stutterers are reluctant to engage in group conversations, telephone conversations, or situations in which they must speak in front of a group. Stuttering can even alter life decisions such as career choices. People with this disorder feel different and alone because of other's often unrealistic perceptions which may often include pity, disgust, teasing, and impatience. Our goal was to develop a good therapy tool for inexperienced clinicians to function more competently and for experienced clinicians to become more successful in fluency therapy. Many clinicians today lack training and experience in the area of stuttering which causes feelings of incompetence and high anxiety when they are asked to work with stuttering clients (St. Louis, 1997). Smooth Talking is a therapy material in notebook form designed to be utilized with child, adolescent, and adult stutterers. This poster session will provide an overview of the program as well as sample copies of activities and materials.

Dr. William E. Snell, Jr., Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: The relationship between the symptoms of the personality disorders listed in the DSM-IV and contraceptive behaviors was investigated. It was anticipated that people with Cluster A personality disorders would report more reliable contraceptive behavior, while individuals displaying symptoms of Cluster B personality disorders would report more ineffective, unreliable contraceptive behavior. The results indicated that effective contraceptive behavior was positively associated with Antisocial and Nacissistic personality disorders. Further findings indicated that effective contraceptive behavior was negatively associated with Histrionic, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorders. The discussion focuses on the findings associated with Borderline and Paranoid personality disorders, in that Paranoid personality disorder was positively associated with contraceptive behavior, while Borderline personality disorder was negatively associated with contraceptive behavior.

Dr. Joe Pujol, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: Maximal oxygen consumption (V02max) is considered the most accurate method of assessing aerobic capacity in most individuals. Currently many submaximal tests exist such as bench stepping, bicycle ergometry, walking/running, and treadmill exercise which allow for prediction of V02max or aerobic fitness level. In the current study, the Rockport Walk test and Bruce Protocol max test were performed to assess the accuracy of Rockport prediction of V02max. The subjects included volunteers age 20-35 years. Polar-heart rate monitors were used to monitor heart rate during the test. After the Rockport Walk test and Bruce Protocol were completed, V02max calculations were used to compare the field and lab tests. Rockport underestimated V02max in this sample.

Dr. William E. Snell, Jr., Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: Although information about using contraceptives properly and contraception itself are increasingly available, the rate of unintended pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS are increasing. In attempt to discover the effect that personality disorders may have on the use of effective and reliable contraception, the present research used the PDQ-4+ (Hyler, 1994) and the Contraceptive Behavioral Scale (Adler and Hendrick, 1991). Based on a sample of 71 female students at Southeast Missouri State University, the results indicated that the schizotypal personality disorder was associated with ineffective and unreliable use of contraception. The discussion focuses on how future research may add new perspectives to the problem of unreliable and ineffective contraceptive use.

Dr. Martha Zlokovich, Faculty Sponsor

ABSTRACT: This study reports the level of self-actualization among female college students. Self-actualization is at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which includes physiological, safety, affection, esteem, and self-fulfillment needs. Once primary needs are satisfied they cease to act as drives and are replaced by needs of a higher order. In the present study, the Jones and Crandall Short Index of Self-actualization was administered to 20 female college students. This index discriminated between participants categorized as self-actualizing and non-self-actualizing. The index designated the score of 51.20 as necessary to be categorized as self-actualizing. Forty-five percent (9 students) of the females tested in this study met this criteria. These students were all older (M = 29) than the overall sample mean age of 21 years. The fact all self-actualizing participants were older than the sample's mean age was consistent with Maslow's theory, which proposed that as time passes, one grows closer to reaching the highest goal of self-actualization. Maslow further stated that self-actualization comes from within a person and can be influenced by major life events. Thirty-five percent (7 students) of those questioned had made a complete turnaround in their beliefs within the last 5 years. Twenty percent (2 students) of the 35% who changed described major life events as influencing the changes in their beliefs. These results are in harmony with Maslow statements that major life changes could cause one to totally change one's belief. Twenty percent (4 students) of the participants stated that they had not changed any of their beliefs at all, having held them all their lives. This may be an indication that these participants perhaps are still working on the lower level needs of physiological, safety and security, belongingness, love and esteem.